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へそのゴマ (へそのごま, hesonogoma) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

へそのゴマ

Meanings

1

belly-button lint; navel fluff

usually written using kana alone

Casual term for the lint that accumulates in the navel.

お風ふ呂ろに入はいったら、へそのゴマを取とってね。
When you take a bath, clean out your belly-button lint, okay?

Kanji

臍navel

Written forms

へそのゴマ
Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 臍のゴマ is rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
臍へそのゴマ
Kanji spelling is uncommon; 臍 is a non-jōyō kanji and often replaced by kana.

Etymology

Compound of へそ (navel) and ゴマ (sesame), from the resemblance of navel lint to sesame seeds.